Women's rights advocates say they're horrified after a young woman was mobbed and attacked by a large crowd of men on a university campus in Papua New Guinea.
Warning: This story contains content some readers may find distressing.
Video footage of the incident shows a woman walking at night with her hands covering her ears while a group of men surround her, shouting and jeering.
Despite being escorted by two security guards, she is physically attacked multiple times by men in the crowd, and attempts to fight them off.
It is understood the incident took place over the weekend at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in the city of Lae.
The university's vice-chancellor, Ora Renagi, released a statement strongly condemning the behaviour.
"The video showing a young woman being harassed by a group of students on our campus is deeply disturbing," Professor Renagi said.
"Mob behaviour is unacceptable, harassment is a crime, and such actions will not be tolerated."
He said the university had launched an investigation and students involved would face disciplinary action.
A separate statement by a student body said the woman was not a registered student at the university.
It claimed the incident occurred after a verbal confrontation between the woman and a male student after the woman tried to enter a first-year dormitory.
Activist 'sickened to the bone' by footage
Maureen Jane, a Papua New Guinean journalist and women's rights advocate, said the incident was symptomatic of deeper issues in the country.
"I'm sickened to the bone. I'm sickened to the core of my soul," Ms Jane told the ABC.
She called on all leaders at all levels of government to address gender-based violence.
"What's being done about 'men's mob mentality', especially at a university level? What does it mean for women, our sisters, mothers, and girls 50 years on?" she said.
Her comments come as Papua New Guinea prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence next month.
However, the country has one of the world's highest rates of violence against women.
"Women leaders from all levels of government, the PNG society, please come together to eradicate these barbaric acts," Ms Jane said.
